Robin Varghese, MD

Robin Varghese MD, MS, FRCSC, is a Professor in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery and the Director of Cardiovascular Critical Care for the Mount Sinai Health System including The Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside, and Mount Sinai South Nassau.

Dr. Varghese is a strong advocate of performing valve repair and not replacement when possible and has taken an interest in minimally invasive techniques for mitral valve and aortic surgery, including small midline incision and right anterior thoracotomies. He is an advocate of the Ross Procedure for patients with Aortic valve disease when the valve is not repairable. For patients requiring coronary bypass surgery, he routinely uses a multi-arterial revascularization strategy and is focused on improving long-term results and rapid postoperative recovery.

As the Director of Cardiovascular Critical Care, he strives to achieve outstanding quality-based outcomes for all of Mount Sinai's cardiac surgery patients. Dr. Varghese believes that along with surgical excellence, meticulous postoperative care is required to ensure a great outcome for patients, and as a Surgeon-Intensivist he is able to provide this complete package for his patients.

He completed his medical school, and residency in Cardiac Surgery at the University of Western Ontario in Ontario, Canada. After completing his board examinations in Cardiac Surgery, he went on to complete specialty training in Critical Care providing him with the expertise to manage complex patients after heart surgery. Dr. Varghese is in an expert in mitral valve repair/reconstruction and aortic valve/aneurysm surgeries. He has lectured and educated other physicians on the benefits of valve repair over replacement.

During his residency training he completed a Master’s in Clinical Epidemiology at Stanford University, California. Using these skills Dr. Varghese is focusing his research efforts on clinical outcomes in mitral valve repair and aortic root/aneurysm surgery. He serves as a principal investigator for a number of ongoing national clinical trials in cardiac surgery in the areas of valvular and coronary artery disease. In addition to his research efforts, he regularly lectures medical students, residents, and fellows. He is also involved in educating future heart surgeons in the developing world.

Complementing his technical skill, Dr. Varghese is known for his empathetic bedside manner and takes the time to understand and listen to his patients. Using his surgical skills, he has performed many medical mission trips to various countries including within various parts of India, Asia, Africa, and South America. There he works to provides care for the underserved populations.